Wednesday, February 25, 2015

What You Should Know About Buying A Pilates Apparatus

By Olivia Cross


Pilates is an exercise program that is comprised of a series of key moves aimed at strengthening the core muscles and the body's alignment and flexibility. Certain equipment has been designed to be used with this form of exercise to maximize the final results, dedicated practitioners should find out about these types of Pilates apparatus and how they function, so they can purchase them for use at home.

It's possible to learn this exercise technique at home by means of an instructional DVD or an online tutorial if one prefers, although others will rather attend a gym or studio for group or private instruction. The best way a student of this discipline can gain the most from it is to practice the exercises daily, which ultimately means purchasing one's own equipment for this purpose.

Central to the Pilates program is the exercise mat. This is by far the most common piece of equipment which participants from beginners to instructors use for floor exercises. The amount of padding and size of mats varies to suit different preferences. They fold up to be easily stored or transported elsewhere.

Accessories are some of the most affordable kinds of equipment used to enhance a Pilates workout and they occupy relatively little space, making them a good choice for anyone, even those in smaller quarters. Inflatable exercise balls, can be incorporated into floor routines and are excellent for strength and balance exercises, medicine balls are weighted for upper body strengthening, and for resistance work, there are rings and resistance bands.

Reformers are versatile machines which play an integral role in any successful Pilates training regime. This system has a wood or metal frame and consists of a padded sliding carriage, foot bar, hand grips, shoulder blocks, and a set of pulleys and four underlying springs which provide resistance against the movement of the user's body. Multiple key moves can be performed using this one-stop workout station.

A similar workout can be accomplished using a machine known as the "Cadillac", but it offers a more intense focus on building the muscles of the legs and arms. Resistance differs according to the particular exercise being performed and is produced by a series of roll-back and push-through bars, and spring-loaded handles and loops. It is also a suitable alternative to floor exercises and can provide a good warm-up routine.

Pilates incorporates the use of several special exercise chairs as well, with each offering different results. The "baby" chair's primary purpose is for strengthening the core and upper body, while the "high" chair helps improve bodily posture and alignment. The "Wunda" chair is by far the most versatile, and can be adjusted into several configurations to provide a fine-tuned version of what the reformer offers.

Spine barrel correctors are essentially padded, wooden barrels which can be used for performing various exercises to improve upper body and spinal alignment and flexibility. Unlike an actual barrel, they do not roll but remain stationary and are effective tools for moves which are designed to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the shoulders, upper torso, and back.




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